Andrew Shinnie’s stoppage-time winner gave Livingston the points, but the Diamonds left West Lothian gutted not to have taken anything from the match after a much improved performance.

Rhys McCabe’s injury concerns continued to mount ahead of the match as striker Ben Wilson was not risked after suffering a broken hand, Aaron Reid his replacement. Mason Hancock and Murray Aiken also came into the side in place of Chris Mochrie and the suspended Rhys Armstrong.

Half chances were exchanged early on as Ryan McGowan nipped in front of Reid as both chased Cammy Bruce’s forward ball, and Scott Pittman’s touch squirmed into the grasp of Murray Johnson after a Stevie May pass.

Hancock struck the defensive wall with a 20-yard free-kick after Gavin Gallagher had been downed on the tenth minute, and Airdrie fans were shouting for a penalty four minutes later after Reid went down in a tangle with Livi keeper Jérôme Prior, but referee Kevin Clancy rightly waved play on.

The Diamonds continued to attack with purpose, and Reid and Frizzell were unlucky not to connect with Gallagher and Bruce’s deliveries around the 20-minute mark.

Stephen Kelly sent a strike wide from outside the box on 22 minutes, and a good block prevented Lewis McGregor’s pass finding Reid for a tap-in two minutes later.

Scotland cap May got on the end of a 27th-minute ball from wide, but Johnson was equal to his spinning shot.

Two minutes later the home side had the lead, the ball worked across the edge of the box from the left flank and Kelly able to steer home despite the best attempts of both Hancock and Johnson.

Having been in control for most of the match so far, Airdrie weren’t behind for long, a pass from McGregor allowing Dylan MacDonald to send in a low cross which Reid hooked home at the near post.

David Martindale’s side pushed to regain their lead quickly, and it took a towering header from the impressive Sam Graham to clear the danger as Lions players packed the box on 34 minutes, MacDonald repeating the feat two minutes later.

After a break in play to allow treatment following a clash of heads, McGregor raced through and slotted an excellent finish past Prior, but the winger was denied by the tightest of offside calls.

The Diamonds finished the half strongly, a good header taking Bruce’s 43rd-minute cross out of the path of the inrushing MacDonald.

A bout of handbags followed a bad foul on the stroke of half-time, with MacDonald again denied by a vital touch in stoppage time before the defender popped up at the other end to block a Robbie Muirhead shot.

It was the home side who started the second half stronger, Kelly heading wide a minute after the restart when it looked easier to score.

Johnson held May’s 50th-minute effort and a series of Livingston corners came to nothing as they looked to edge back in front.

Good play by Airdrie skipper Adam Frizzell allowed McGregor to pick out MacDonald, whose cutback was blocked behind.

The lively MacDonald limped off to be replaced by Lewis McGrattan on 57 minutes, but the Diamonds continued to defend well as a unit with Graham winning everything in the air.

Reid was back helping out his defence on 63 minutes, nodding a Michael Nottingham effort over his own bar to keep the score level, and Pittman fired wildly over two minutes later.

The next sight of goal fell to Pittman again after Aiken’s clearance had landed kindly for the midfielder, but this time he screwed his effort wide.

Reid and McGrattan fashioned a 68th-minute chance for Gallagher, but another desperate block denied the midfielder before Watson saw a cross hacked clear as the Diamonds enjoyed a good spell of attacking possession.

Substitute Chris Mochrie saw his shot blocked on 72 minutes, with Watson defending well against another good supporting run by Pittman five minutes later.

Aiken was crowded out on 82 minutes after good play by Frizzell, but the ball was worked back across to find Mochrie five yards out, with Prior pulling off an outstanding reflex save to deny the former Dundee United man.

With five minutes remaining, Graham angled a header into the side netting before Nottingham got enough on Bruce’s cross to deflect it behind.

The sucker-punch came a minute into stoppage time, Livingston having refreshed their forward line while Airdrie faced limited options from their depleted bench. Liam Sole picked out fellow substitute Andrew Shinnie on the edge of the box, and the former Rangers and Birmingham man sent a cultured finish curling into the top corner.

Airdrie continued to push through the remainder of stoppage time, but the final whistle signalled a sickening defeat for the Diamonds who had performed well throughout.

Next week’s home tie against Dunfermline Athletic gives Rhys McCabe’s side the opportunity to haul themselves off the foot of the table, and the squad will take much encouragement from a good display.